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The three-time major champ, speaking from the Battle of the Brits, give his take on what went down on the Adria Tour. Speaking after his first victory at the “Battle of the Brits,” Andy Murray has given his views on the Adria Tour fiasco that has left World No.1 Novak Djokovic and three other top players, as well as key support staff and family members, positive for Covid-19.

Murray says it isn’t surprising that the positive test results have occurred, given the lack of social distancing and testing that occurred over the last few weekends in Belgrade, Serbia and Zadar, Croatia.

“In hindsight, it’s not something that should have gone ahead,” Murray said, according to the UK Guardian. “It’s not surprising how many people have tested positive after seeing some of the images of the players’ party and the kids’ day. There was no social distancing in place.”

Murray says that, contrary to what many believe, the shockwaves of this isolated event might not have repercussions when it comes to holding the US Open in August.

“Some people have said maybe this has put the US Open in doubt—which it may well do. But the measures and the protocols they have in place at the USTA are different to Serbia and Croatia,” Murray said. “No fans for a start. Coronavirus doesn’t care about who we are or what we do. We need to respect it and respect the rules.”

"We need to respect it and respect the rules."

Watch @andy_murray give his take on the Adria Tour fiasco 🎥 👇 https://t.co/m0bZuIsFtm

— Tennis Majors (@Tennis_Majors) June 24, 2020

While Murray adds that the Adria Tour has been a massive net negative for the image of tennis, the positive is that we now know what a worst-case scenario looks like, both for top players, and the viewing public.

“I don’t think it has been a great look for tennis. The only positive is that, until it is safe to do so, we have no fans at the event to reduce the risk as much as possible.”

Pro tennis returns in Australia next week, but the world No. 1 will practice instead.
Pro tennis resumes Down Under next week with a notable absence.

World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty will take a pass when the UTR Pro Tennis Series makes stops in five Australian cities.

More: Djokovic's Dad Blames Dimitrov for Coronavirus Spread

The reigning Roland Garros champion will hit the practice court while the UTR Pro Series is contested amid what organizers say are "strict biosecurity protocols."

"At this stage I won't be taking part in the UTR Pro Series as my team and I continue to focus on my training," Barty said in a statement. "It's great there is an opportunity for Aussies to get back out there and I wish all the competing players the best for the event."

The UTR Pro Tennis Series will feature stops in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, starting in Sydney on Saturday, June 27th, with Brisbane and Melbourne competitions getting underway on Monday, June 29th.

“With so much of the tennis season still uncertain, our aim through the UTR Pro Tennis Series is to give as many of our athletes the chance to compete and, importantly, also earn prize money, after months of not being able to make their living playing the sport they have devoted their lives to,” Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said.

“Our team has put an enormous amount of time and effort into the planning of these events, and have worked closely with the authorities and tennis staff around the country on the ground to ensure they are run according to strict local biosecurity protocols.”

Organizers say the first phase of the UTR Pro Tennis Series will run until August, with the possibility of extending further depending on the resumption of the global ATP and WTA Tours.

Among the security protocol in place:

• Players will bring their own towels to court
• On-court personnel will be limited with no ball kids, a chair umpire and minimal lines crew
• Physical distancing rules are in place according to governmental guidelines.

Players will enter using their Universal Tennis Rating (UTR), giving them an opportunity to compete locally and have their results count globally via the Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) system.

Participating players and updates on the full calendar, including wheelchair exhibition events, will be announced in the coming days.

Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

Wilson adds French Open flavor to Blade and Clash.
No need to travel to Paris to experience French Open flavor this year.

Wilson has launched a two new Roland Garros-inspired high-performance tennis racquets.

Kyrgios: Epitome of Stupidity

The exclusive Roland Garros (RG) Edition racquets include the Clash 100 RG and the Blade 98 (16×19 string pattern) v7.0 RG, which feature designs inspired by the venerable clay-court Grand Slam.

Both racquets present a modern aesthetic that reflects the red clay of Roland Garros.

Accents of the famed French Open terre battue color at the tip of each frame are complemented by timeless slate gray and white at the three and nine o’clock positions for the Blade, and maritime navy and slate gray for the Clash.

The sticks also feature a matching red clay hued grip to complete the design.

Special features of these limited edition racquets include:

• Clash 100 RG Edition: newly patented 3D-bending techno for confidence and control (MRP $249).
• Blade 98 (16×19) v7.0 RG Edition: cutting-edge FeelFlex™ technology provides next-level performance and a more connected-to-the-ball feel (MRP $219).

Photo credit: Wilson

The Austrian has tested negative three times for Covid-19.Dominic Thiem has been cleared by medical staff to play at this weekend’s Ultimate Tennis Showdown.

The Austrian was at last week’s Adria Tour event in Belgrade along with Grigor Dimitrov, who tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday. By that time Thiem was already in the South of France and was just about to play his second match of the weekend.

According to the tournament, Thiem has been tested three times, and was negative each time, his agent confirmed to Tennis Majors.

For week 3 of @UTShowdown, @ThiemDomi has been given the go-ahead from medical staff 👇 https://t.co/tbiLmupYPh

— Tennis Majors (@Tennis_Majors) June 22, 2020

He will be in the lineup this weekend provided he does test positive.

It has been over a week since Thiem was in contact with Dimitrov, and it is not known exactly if Dimitrov contracted Covid-19 before or after his weekend in Belgrade.

Unfortunately the science on what negative tests mean for people who are exhibiting no symptoms isn’t entirely clear. Some test negative until the virus has had time to replicate and show up at a high enough level to be detectable. With each passing day, it becomes less likely that an asymptomatic person would produce a false negative test.

In addition to Dimitrov’s positive test on Sunday, Borna Coric also tested positive. Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev and Marin Cilic have all announced that they have tested negative but will self-isolate for the next fourteen days.

The two-time Slam champion wants to play the US Open, but does have her worries. Though she has been active in the public eye as she uses her expansive starpower and social media platform to push for social justice, 2018 US Open champion Naomi Osaka is eager to get her 2020 tennis season back on track while at the same time admitting that it is a scary proposition.

In a candid video interview with Time Magazine the two-time major champion talked about Racism in Japan and Colin Kaepernick as well as the US Open and 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Naomi Osaka in TIME 100 Talks Asia virtual eventhttps://t.co/ghFhdwZ8UT

— Chris Oddo (@TheFanChild) June 17, 2020

“I want to play,” Osaka said of the 2020 US Open. “For me right now I’m definitely preparing as if it’s going to happen.”

She added: “I’m also concerned. I don’t know if they’re really prepared for this. If the rules keep changing and also if there’s going to be another spike, you never know what’s going to happen.”

In light of the announcements that the WTA and ATP Tours have made about restarting tennis in early to mid-August in collaboration with the ITF, the US Open and Roland Garros, Osaka admitted that the travel is a scary part of getting back to the sport.

“I think I would just be worried about travelling because tennis players have to travel quite often,” she said.

No matter what happens, the announcements have put a bit more urgency into Osaka’s day-to-day activities. She says she has enjoyed parts of quarantine, like re-connecting with reading (as opposed to being a TV junkie) and lending her voice to the cause of social justice, but she is aware that the time for tennis is near again.

“I’ve been practicing recently,” she said. “I think tuning up my game tennis-wise, it’s more like I’m just trying to get my balance back to, I guess, the things that I’ve been working on before quarantine.”

If there is one thing that the 22-year-old has missed more than any other, it would be the stirring battles that she used to regularly take part in with the WTA's best. Osaka says she misses the competition most.

“I think all athletes are really competitive and when there’s nothing to compete for it’s a bit boring.”

The French Open believes it will be able to bring spectators on site and says tickets should go on sale in late June or early July. Roland Garros has moved back one week in the calendar (main draw begins Sep. 27, qualies Sep 21) and will now feature qualifiers, due to a third week of competition being added.

Another big talking point? The tournament believes it will be able to have spectators in attendance.

“It will absolutely not be behind closed doors. There is no final decision yet on the number of spectators, which will be decided on with the public authorities,” FFT president Bernard Giudicelli told reporters, according to Reuters.

🗓️The dates of the Roland-Garros tournament have been confirmed and it will be held over three weeks, from 21st September to 11th October 2020.
More informations >> https://t.co/uLSFRnAjYU#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/Ah99VPrnfp

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 17, 2020

The tournament said it would begin selling tickets at the end of June or in early July. The tournament will take place at the end of a busy period in Europe. Madrid and Rome are set to take place in the two weeks before main draw play begins on September 27.

Tournament director Guy Forget is confident that attendance from top players will be strong.

“Seventy-five players from the top 100 are currently in Europe and I am convinced they will preserve themselves to be in top form in Paris,” said Forget.

Qualifiers, Mixed and Wheelchairs Will Play

Forget also added that the tournament will start at its normal time despite that fact that it is held at a time of year when the days are shorter. Also, he says that all the events will be played. There could be a slight reduction in the size of the qualifying draw from 128 to 96. The legends tournament, however, is still up in the air.

"We will start the matches at 11 am, like the other years, because it should be remembered that the days have rarely extended beyond 9 pm or 10 pm in the past," also explained Forget, in L’equipe. “We maintain the singles, and the doubles, men, women and mixed as well as the wheelchair tournament and the qualifications, which are an integral part of the tournament. The only uncertainty concerns the table of qualifiers, which may be 96 players instead of 128 and there will also be a choice to make compared to the trophy of legends. "

The Austrian is finding some mid-season form already, and the season has yet to start.

Dominic Thiem was crowned champion at the Belgrade leg of the Adria Tour on Sunday. The Austrian took away the title with a 4-3 2-4 4-2 victory over Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic.

Thiem brought the packed crowd—yes, packed—to life with this incredible tweener winner during the match (video above). Looks like the Austrian is not too far from mid-season form. Perhaps he is eyeing a maiden Grand Slam title while the other top players consider their options?

The Austrian also logged wins over Grigor Dimitrov, Dusan Lajovic and Damir Dzumhur at the event.

Here's Thiem's tweener winner- pic.twitter.com/J6qRn4RU5e

— Del🇪🇺 (@Stroppa_Del) June 14, 2020

World No. 7 sees bleak scene for Flushing Meadows.
Alexander Zverev says playing the US Open may prove too complicated for players in this coronavirus era.

The USTA is expected to make an announcement on the status of the 2020 US Open on Monday.

More: Possible US Open Scenarios

US Open main-draw play is scheduled to start on August 31st.

The USTA has proposed playing the Flushing Meadows major in a safety bubble with no fans, players flying to New York on private charters and staying at hotels near JFK airport. No player entourages would be permitted.

World No. 7 Zverev suggests safety protocols would make playing the Flushing Meadows major "very difficult."

"Everyone wants to play a Grand Slam tournament, if possible," Zverev told the media at the Adria Tour in Belgrade. "But with the current circumstances, with the measures currently in force, it will be very difficult. Once you arrive in New York, you have to quarantine yourself for fourteen days, you can't go anywhere…

"And then, we will play without spectators. There will not be the usual atmosphere. I also don't think we will be able to use the locker rooms, we will not be able to shower on site. We don't know if there will be food.

"To sum up, there will be nothing there."

Photo credit: Adria Tour Facebook

"We should just park it and start again at the beginning of next year," says former British Fed Cup captain.
Uncertainty over the coronavirus should compel tennis to cancel the rest of the 2020 season and restart in 2021 says Judy Murray.

The former British Fed Cup captain told BBC Sport unless a COVID-19 vaccine is developed, tennis should restart in 2021 to ensure safety and fairness for all players.

Jankovic: Fully Recovered, Unsure on Comeback

The mother and original coach of former singles world No. 1 Andy Murray and former doubles world No. 1 Jamie Murray says she doesn't believe all players will play tournaments this season anyway.

"We should just park it and start again at the beginning of next year, almost like a clean sheet," Judy Murray told BBC Sport. "That would be fairer to everybody. It feels to me that until there's a vaccine, I don't think you're going to get a full complement of players anywhere."

The ATP and WTA extended suspension of the pro circuit until at least the start of August. The USTA is expected to make an announcement on playing the US Open on Monday.

"It's so tough because everybody sees things in a completely different way," Judy Murray said. "I believe there were 400 players on a Zoom call discussing with the ATP, the men all discussing what they felt about going back and of course you'll get some who desperately want it and there's others who are more cautious and I wouldn't like to be the tournament director."

Photo credit: Judy Murray Foundation

The Japanese has faced backlash for her vehement support of the protests that followed George Floyd's death, and she's hitting right back.
Naomi Osaka has been a prominent voice on social media since the death of George Floyd, and the two-time major champion, just 22 years of age, wants the world to know that she is not content just “sticking to sports.”

The times call for action and Osaka is vehemently behind the cause of #BlackLivesMatter, period.

Osaka has faced—and railed against—a backlash on social media after throwing her support behind the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests, and she has no plans to stop.

I hate when random people say athletes shouldn’t get involved with politics and just entertain. Firstly, this is a human rights issue. Secondly, what gives you more right to speak than me? By that logic if you work at IKEA you are only allowed to talk about the “GRÖNLID” 🤷🏽‍♀️?

— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) June 4, 2020

“I’m vocal because I believe in the movement and want to try to use my platform to facilitate change,” Osaka told Reuters. “George Floyd’s murder and the situation generally in America has had a big impact on me. Being silent is never the answer. Everyone should have a voice in the matter and use it.”

Osaka told Reuters that she marched in Minneapolis and also in Los Angeles, where she currently resides. Those who follow her on social media where already aware.

Osaka also made comments about former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick to Reuters.

“Colin has been putting this message out since 2016. It took a pandemic, an economic crisis and a torturous murder on camera, all at the same time, for people to really hear him,” she said. “If the NFL wants to show that they really care the first thing they should so is take a knee together and give Colin his job back.”

Osaka seems to take pleasure in calling out the ignorance of those who troll her on social media.

“I’m more sad for them than myself—to be so hateful and ignorant can’t be an easy way to live life.”